How much does a deputy headteacher earn?
Deputy headteacher pay is set on the same 43-point leadership spine as every other leadership post, but deputies occupy a fairly predictable band in the middle of it. The two factors that move the number are phase — primary or secondary — and the size of the school.
| Setting | Typical ISR | Salary range |
|---|---|---|
| Small primary (Group 1–2) | L6 – L12 | £60,514 – £70,022 |
| Average primary (Group 3) | L8 – L14 | £63,531 – £73,513 |
| Large primary (Group 4) | L10 – L16 | £66,698 – £77,177 |
| Small secondary (Group 5) | L11 – L17 | £68,340 – £79,077 |
| Average secondary (Group 6) | L13 – L19 | £71,746 – £83,019 |
| Large secondary (Group 7–8) | L16 – L22 | £77,177 – £89,303 |
These are observed sector patterns rather than statutory values. The definitive figure for any post is the individual school range published in the job advert and set out in the school's pay policy.
Deputy head pay by region
London weighting applies to the whole leadership spine, so a deputy in inner London on the same spine point earns substantially more than a counterpart elsewhere.
| Point | Rest of England | Fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L8 | £63,531 | £65,091 | £68,020 | £74,188 |
| L10 | £66,698 | £68,280 | £71,246 | £77,487 |
| L12 | £70,022 | £71,624 | £74,625 | £80,933 |
| L14 | £73,513 | £75,132 | £78,165 | £84,532 |
| L16 | £77,177 | £78,813 | £81,872 | £88,291 |
| L18 | £81,024 | £82,673 | £85,755 | £92,218 |
| L20 | £85,063 | £86,722 | £89,822 | £96,319 |
How the deputy range relates to the headteacher's
The STPCD expects that pay ranges for deputy and assistant headteachers should not normally overlap with the headteacher's individual school range. That single rule shapes deputy pay more than anything else.
In a Group 3 primary where the head is on an ISR of L11 to L17, the deputy range will normally top out at or below L11 — so something like L5 to L11. In a Group 6 secondary where the head sits on L21 to L27, a deputy range of L15 to L21 is typical.
For the level above, see the headteacher salary guide and its explanation of the group size framework.
Deputy head versus assistant head
The step from assistant to deputy headteacher is usually four to six spine points. In cash terms that is meaningful, but the pension tier can eat into it.
| Role | Typical point | Salary | Pension tier | Approx. monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant head | L9 | £65,095 | 10.2% | £3,694 |
| Deputy head | L15 | £75,322 | 11.7% | £4,080 |
| Difference | +6 points | +£10,227 | +1.5pp | +£386 |
A £10,227 gross increase delivers roughly £386 a month extra. The gap between gross and net is wider than many people expect because the move crosses the £72,534 pension tier boundary as well as taking more income into the 40% band. Model your own figures with the teacher pay calculator. Full detail on the level below is in the assistant headteacher salary guide.
What deputy heads actually do for the money
Pay ranges reflect accountability, and deputy headship is where accountability changes character. Typical elements of the role include deputising fully for the head, holding a whole-school portfolio such as curriculum, behaviour or safeguarding, line-managing other leaders, and carrying statutory responsibilities as designated safeguarding lead in many schools.
Most deputies also retain a teaching commitment. Unlike classroom teachers, leadership group members are not entitled to guaranteed PPA time in the same way, and they have no limit on directed time — the STPCD directed time provisions do not apply to the leadership group.
Pension impact of deputy headship
Because the Teachers' Pension Scheme is career average rather than final salary, years spent as a deputy build pension at the higher salary permanently. Each year you accrue 1/57th of your pensionable pay, revalued annually.
A deputy on £75,322 builds around £1,321 of annual pension for that single year, compared with roughly £927 for a teacher on U3. Over a ten-year deputy headship, that difference compounds into a materially larger retirement income.
Deputy head pay in Scotland, Wales and London
The figures above are England and Wales. Deputy head teacher salaries in Scotland are set by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers on a separate depute head scale, and the numbers are not interchangeable with the English leadership spine — a Scottish depute head is paid from a different framework with different progression rules. Northern Ireland similarly runs its own leadership arrangements.
In Wales, deputies in maintained schools are paid on the IWPRB-negotiated version of the leadership spine, which currently matches the English endpoints. A deputy head teacher salary in inner London works exactly as the regional table shows: the same spine points simply carry higher values, so an L12 deputy earns £80,933 in inner London against £70,022 in the rest of England — a premium of nearly £10,900 for the identical point.
Common mistakes when taking a deputy post
- Not asking where in the ISR you would start. An advert quoting L12 to L18 may only offer L12 to an internal candidate.
- Assuming the range is negotiable after appointment. Starting point is much easier to negotiate before you accept.
- Giving up a TLR 1 without checking the maths. A U3 teacher with a £15,000 TLR 1 earns £67,835, more than many primary deputies.
- Overlooking the loss of directed time protections. Leadership hours are not capped.
- Ignoring the pension tier boundary at £72,534. Crossing it costs 1.5 percentage points on your entire salary.
- Not checking whether the post is one of two deputies. A sole deputy in a large school carries far more than the pay difference suggests.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a deputy head teacher earn in the UK?
Most deputy headteachers earn between £63,531 and £89,303 in the rest of England for 2026/27, depending on phase and school size. Primary deputies typically sit between L8 and L16 and secondary deputies between L12 and L20 on the leadership spine.
How much does a primary deputy head teacher earn?
A primary deputy typically earns between £60,514 and £77,177 in the rest of England for 2026/27, depending on school group size. In a small Group 1 or 2 primary the range is usually L6 to L12; in a large Group 4 primary it is more likely L10 to L16.
Can a deputy head be paid more than the headteacher?
It should not normally happen. The STPCD expects deputy and assistant head ranges not to overlap with the headteacher's individual school range. In rare cases an experienced deputy at the top of their range in a large school might out-earn a new head of a very small school, but not within the same school.
How much more do deputy heads earn than assistant heads?
Typically four to six spine points, which is around £6,000 to £10,000 gross. Moving from L9 to L15 in the rest of England is an increase of £10,227 gross, worth roughly £386 a month after tax, National Insurance and the higher pension tier.
Do deputy heads get PPA time?
Not as a statutory entitlement. Guaranteed PPA time and the 1,265-hour directed time limit apply to classroom teachers, not to the leadership group. Most deputies negotiate a reduced teaching commitment, but there is no statutory protection on leadership hours.
What is L12 for a deputy head?
L12 is approximately £70,022 in the rest of England, £71,624 in the fringe, £74,625 in outer London and £80,933 in inner London for 2026/27. It is a very common point for secondary deputy headteachers and experienced primary deputies.
What is the average deputy head teacher salary in the UK?
Across primary and secondary settings, most UK deputy heads earn between roughly £63,500 and £89,300 in the rest of England for 2026/27, with inner London adding around £10,700 to £11,200. Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate negotiating frameworks with their own depute head scales.
Is deputy headship worth it financially?
It depends what you are giving up. If you currently hold a large TLR 1 on U3 you may be earning £63,000 to £68,000 already, which overlaps the bottom of many deputy ranges. Compare the total package including allowances, and factor in the loss of directed time protections.
Sources
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